On New Year's Eve 2025, Puerto Rico faced a significant blackout that plunged nearly the entire island into darkness, affecting over 1.2 million of its nearly 1.5 million customers, as reported by Luma Energy. The blackout was attributed to a failure in an electric line at the Costa Sur power plant, leading to widespread disruptions as residents prepared to celebrate the new year. Full restoration of power could take between 24 to 48 hours, with some areas, including San Juan's municipal hospital, regaining electricity by Tuesday afternoon, impacting nearly 200,000 clients.
The situation has drawn attention from US President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, who have been briefed on the developments. Local leaders, including Jenniffer González-Colon, Puerto Rico's US congressional representative, have criticized the reliance on a failing energy system. Governor Pedro Pierluisi has also demanded accountability from the power companies involved, specifically Luma Energy and Genera.
This incident is not isolated; Puerto Rico's power grid has faced numerous challenges since Hurricane Maria in 2017, with recovery efforts hampered by various factors. Earlier this year, the island experienced multiple outages, including a significant one in June that impacted 350,000 customers and another in August affecting over 700,000 following Hurricane Ernesto. A February 2024 report from the US Government Accountability Office highlighted the ongoing struggles of Puerto Rico's energy infrastructure, underscoring the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure a reliable power supply for its residents. [cfa8f817]